Mounting for compasses



Oct. 4, 1932.

A. L. RAWLINGS MOUNTING FOR 'COMPASSES Filed May 12. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR fi/Pr/ /z/ R L. fikwL was.

K; ATTORN EY 7 Oct. 4, 1932. W GS 1,880,982

MOUNTING FOR COMPASSES Filed May 12, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .9 j 2 i INVENTOR i UNITEDf 'fSTATES PATENT OFFICE An'rnun L. RAWLINGS, or noNnoN, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR 'ro SPERRY exnoscorn com- PANY, INGQOF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION or NEW xonx MOUNTING FOR COMPASSES Application filed May 12, 1930, Serial No. 451,539, and in Great Britain Kay 24, 1929.

This invention relates to compasses, whether magnetic or gyroscopic, in which some form of resilient support is used between the binnacle and the compass proper to minimize the eifect of shocks and vibrations.

Almost all compasses at present in use embody some such resilient support, which may take the form of pads of horse hair or sponge rubber or of suspensioir springs on which the compass itself is slung in its binnacle. All these arrangements allowof a certain amount of angular displacement of 'the lubbers line of the compass relatively to the fore and aft line of the ship,'and this introduces the pos- 1 sibility of error in the determination of the ships head as read from the compass.

According to the persent invention, the,

above mentioned error is-prevented by employing between the compass proper and the 0' binnacle in whi h it is resiliently supported a mechanical movement system, independent of the resilient support, connecting the compass proper to the binnacle in such a manner as to permit freedom oftranslation in any direction but prevent the above mentionedangular displacement. The object of the invention is to prevent the turning of the binnacle ring l within the binnacle when it bounces up and down or sways sideways on its spring suspension 5. Translatory movements of thecompass within the binnacle are not transmitted to the repeater compasses and hence are immaterial, but any twisting of the binnacle ring is immediately transmitted as an error to the repeater compasses and it is the object of this invention to avoid this error.

For the purpose in view, a system of parallel motions is convenient.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a gyro compass suspended from its binnacle by one embodiment ofmeans according to the present invention.

60. v Fig. 3 is a front sectional elevation.v

with vertical axes.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view at right angles to Fig. 3.

The construction of the compass itself forms no part ofthe present invention. In the accompanying drawings, a few of the parts of the Sperry gyro compass are shown for convenience of illustration and description.

1 represents the usual binnacle; 2 the gyro casing; 3 the compass card; and 4 the usual horizontal supporting ring suspendedfrom the binnacle by a group of s rings 5. Up to thispoint the construction difiers in no way from what has been common practice heretofore. Accordin to the present invention there is interpose between the ring 4 and the binnacle a mechanical movement system consisting, in the embodiment shown, of a pair of parallel links 6 and 7, a horizontal ring 8, and a second pair of parallel links 9 and 10 set transverse with respect to the first mentioned pair, i. e. at right angles as seen in plan.

The links 6 and 7 are connected at the ends 6a and 7a to the ends of a chord of the ring 4 and are connected at their other ends 6b and 7 b to the ring 8, the links being parallel and normally extending at right angles to the chord joining their ends 6a, 7a. The end connections 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b,- are preferably in the form of universal joints as shown.

The ring8 is preferably formed of tubular metal and of about the same diameter as that of the spring suspended ring 4.

The links 9 and 10 are connected at their ends 9a and 10a to the ring 8 and at their other ends 9?) and 10b to brackets 11 supported by the binnacle 1. The end connections 9a, 9b, 1041,1012, are in the form of pivots The links 9 and 10 are preferably strip-shaped having their greater cross sectional axis set horizontally so that a limited up-and-down freedom of the linkage is atforded by fiexure of these links. Alternatively the end connections might be of the ball and socket type in which case the links need not be flexible.

The shape of the links 6, 7 and 9, 10 may be suited to allow all necessary clearance when the ship rolls or pitches.

The Weight of the ring 8 may be taken solely by the links 9 and 10 or, alternatively, its actual weight may be taken by light springs such as 12 connected between the rings 4 and 6 8, the strength of these springs being, however, insufficient to restrict ,the' freedcun, of movemlntioi the ring 8. 3

The weight of the compass properis supported in the usual Way by thesuspension 10 springs 5. .The links 6, 7, 9, 10 and the ring 8 which embody-the present inventiondo not limit the vertical motion of the compass in anyway.

nature.

ARTHUR L. RAWLINGS.

From the foregoing descriptionit will be 15 apparent that the constraint on the ring 4,

due to thelinkage systemy'is" such thatthe compass has freedom of translation in any directionbut no freedom offangular displacement tiny-bout, -a a line perpendicular to the 89 deck :of aship on which it is assumed" to be" mounted, v

,Havi'ng described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent mlIA support forvgyroseopic"compasses h-aving-a'ibinnacle:ring,including a binnacle,- a; resilient connection for supporting said binn acle ring from said binnacle, and 1 means for connecting-said ring to said binnacle' which;while-permitting freedom of translatory movement in any direction, 1 prevents angular displacement ,of said ring withrespect to said-binnacle.

2.,A support *for gyroscopic compasses ,hav ing a bi'nnacle ring including a binnacle,"

awresilient connection for supportingsaid binnacle ring from said.binnacle,"and a paral lel motion linkage system for connecting said ring to said binnaclewhich, While permitting Qfrcedomof t'ranslatory motion of said ring, i.

prevents angular in azimuth; a

3. A support for gyroscopic compasses having. aybinnaclering, including a binnacle, a resilient. connection .forfsup'portin'g said 'binnacle ring from said binnacle, an'auxil iary-ring suspended from said binn-acle ring, a pa'irrof links'connecting said binnacle and said auxiliary ring, and-a"; second pair of links connecting-said auxiliary ring-and said binnacle ringfor the purpose specified.

4; A-support for gyroscopi'c' compasses having a-binnacle ring, includinga binnacle, a rvresilient connection j for supporting said a. binnacle ring fromsai d binnacle, an'auxiliary ring'suspended from 'said- 'bin'nacle'ring,

displacement of said ring a pair of oppositelypositioned link's'c'onnect ing said binnacle and said auxiliary ring, and a second-pair of oppositely positioned 'links with their least planes. M 5.

positioned atiright" angles to said first'pai'r and connecting-said auxiliary ring and said binnacle ring, said links; being strip-shaped* thickness lying'in horizontal A support for =gyroscopic-scompasses 

